Salvatore Monaco

The paper aims to investigate perceptions about challenges and opportunities of individuals in same-sex couples related to parenting in contemporary Italy. The country is a particularly relevant study context, as it is among the few states in Europe not to recognize same-sex marriage and adoption, it has a lengthy and complex route to legal recognition for the non-biological parent of children in same-sex couples and surrogacy is, as of 2025, a universal offence. In order to address the research objectives, primary data have been collected via 3 online focus groups, involving 15 childless men and women who, at the time of the focus groups, were in a co-residing relationship with a same-sex partner and were considering the possibility of having a child. The thematic analysis revealed that the path to parenthood for same-sex couples is hindered by legal and economic barriers. The belief that society is more open and progressive than institutions does not fully dispel the concern that stereotypes and biases related to same-sex parenting persist at the social level. The most resilient individuals continue to find ways to pursue their parenting goals, particularly those whose personal determination aligns with social support and financial resources. Parenting intentions are influenced not only by personal evaluations but also by the broader social and cultural context a person is embedded in, and the network of relationships they have. While prospective fathers and mothers share many of the same challenges, the analysis also highlighted some gender-based differences, revealing a complex and multifaceted reality.

The study investigates how agriculture can serve as a driver of sustainable tourism and local development within the Vesuvius National Park under the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (ECST) framework. Based on 14 semi-structured interviews with farmers, tourism operators, cultural institutions, and producer consortia, the findings reveal that agriculture plays a central role not only as a productive sector but also as a custodian of biodiversity, identity, and territorial resilience. Stakeholders emphasised the economic and symbolic value of traditional crops, highlighting how farm-based experiences, product certifications, and civil-society networks strengthen community cohesion and diversify visitor flows. Nevertheless, tourism remains predominantly concentrated in the vicinity of the volcano’s crater, thereby excluding the park’s other trails, limiting the positive impacts on rural and peripheral areas. Practical implications point to the need for improved mobility infrastructure, cross-sector coordination, and targeted incentives to link agrotourism circuits with regional branding and EU sustainability policies. Overall, the study shows that integrating agriculture into tourism governance can foster more inclusive, resilient, and territorially embedded forms of rural development in protected areas.

This paper analyzes the challenges faced by same-sex parents in contemporary society, emphasizing the impact of cultural norms, legal barriers, and financial burdens on their parenting journeys. The increasing visibility of same-sex families, often referred to as the ‘gay baby boom,’ reflects a broader societal shift towards inclusion and acceptance. The paper calls for comprehensive policy reforms to dismantle systemic barriers and ensure equal parental rights for all families. Key recommendations include expanding adoption rights, facilitating access to assisted reproductive technologies, and promoting positive representations of diverse family structures in media and public discourse.

Coastal cities are increasingly exposed to the risks posed by climate change, including rising sea levels, intensified storms, and coastal erosion. In this context, risk communication plays a crucial role, as it can shape public perception, promote preparedness, and influence both emergency responses and long-term mitigation strategies. This study investigated how disaster-related risks are framed in the media, focusing on the case of Naples, Italy, following a severe coastal storm surge that struck the city’s waterfront on December 2020. Using Dynamic Latent Dirichlet Allocation (DLDA), the research analyzed 297 newspaper articles published between 2020 and 2024 to examine the evolution of media narratives over time. The findings reveal four dominant patterns: (1) a prevailing economic discourse centered on financial damages and compensations, with limited references to resilience planning; (2) a temporal framing that presents the storm as a sudden, exceptional event, disconnected from historical precedents or future climate projections; (3) a lack of emphasis on the social experiences and vulnerabilities of local residents; and (4) minimal discussion of tourists’ exposure to risk, despite their presence in high-impact areas. These results highlight key limitations of media-driven risk communication and underscore the need for more inclusive, forward-looking narratives to support urban resilience and climate adaptation in coastal cities. This research offers valuable insights for urban planners, policymakers, journalists, and disaster risk reduction professionals, helping them to better align communication strategies with long-term adaptation goals and the needs of diverse urban populations.

This study explores the working dynamics within the tourism sector of the Vesuvius National Park, focusing on how local stakeholders balance environmental conservation with the promotion of the area. Through 18 semi-structured interviews conducted with professionals involved in various aspects of the sector, innovative strategies emerge that integrate sustainability with economic development. Conservation practices, the use of eco-friendly technologies, and the creation of collaborative networks are considered central elements in promoting responsible tourism. The analysis also highlights the importance of continuous training and local entrepreneurship in meeting the needs of the territory within the framework of sustainable tourism planning. However, the research also identifies several challenges and obstacles, such as resistance to change from certain local entities, difficulties in securing funding, and the persistence of gender disparities to the detriment of female workers. These factors underscore the complexity of implementing a truly sustainable tourism strategy, prompting deeper reflection on current and future policies.

Drawing on a comparative qualitative analysis of case studies in reforestation, urban greening, and green mobility—from both the Global North and the Global South—this paper aims to identify recurring critical patterns associated with eco-blind initiatives, in order to uncover the most significant contradictions and risks underlying contemporary green innovation strategies. Eco-blindness occurs when interventions, although genuinely aimed at promoting sustainability, generate negative consequences by prioritizing environmental goals while overlooking the socio-cultural and territorial contexts within which they are embedded. Among the most significant patterns identified are the top-down imposition of sustainability frameworks, the exclusion of local actors from decision-making processes, the commodification of environmental goods, and the symbolic displacement of communities. In response to these challenges, the analysis emphasizes the transformative potential of place-based and participatory approaches, particularly when sustainability initiatives are co-designed with local communities and tailored to the specificities of territories. The paper concludes by reflecting on the potential contributions of social research in fostering more holistic, equitable, and territorially grounded models of environmental governance.

The affirmation of transgender identity, as posited by sociometer theory, is intricately linked not only to the success of the gender affirmation process but also to the broader social context in which individuals navigate. Existing studies have underscored the crucial role of primary relationships, such as family and peers, in shaping positive transgender identities, fostering self-perception, and enhancing overall well-being. However, limited attention has been given to the role of non-primary social circles in this process. This study aims to bridge this gap by focusing on the influence of non-primary social circles on transgender experiences in Italy. It employs a qualitative exploratory netnographic approach, analyzing 276 posts and corresponding comments from the most frequented Facebook group within the Italian transgender community, written by 118 users. The data, collected between June and September 2023, provided a diverse informational base for inductive analysis, allowing the development of typologies by categorizing cases into distinct types. Findings indicate that transgender experiences in Italy are shaped by societal norms and hegemonic masculinity, which influence gender identities. However, a smaller group perceives transition as an opportunity to challenge these norms, fostering alternative gender models. The study highlights that a positive transgender identity is constructed through both internal and external validation, underscoring the importance of comprehensive support structures. Building on the analysis, the article emphasizes the need for inclusive policies in education, workplaces, and healthcare to address the specific challenges faced by transgender individuals and to promote greater social recognition and well-being.